Winder

ABSTRACT

A winder is provided, for wind-up of yarn onto one or more idler or driven rollers, with such driven rollers being in frictiondrive engagement against a drive roller, with the driven rollers being mounted in such a way that their axes are adapted for movement farther and farther away from the axis of the drive roller, as the build-up of packages on the driven rollers increase. Particularly novel means are provided whereby the weight build-up on the driven rollers, due to the continuous accumulation of yarn thereon is compensated for by force application, to maintain a generally constant force of engagement between the drive roller and a given driven or idler roller.

tilted States Patent 1191 Wyatt Nov. 5, 1974 1 1 WINDER 3,697,007 10/1972 Taylor et a1 242/18 DD [75] Inventor: William Kirk Wyatt, Lansdale, Pa. FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,039,648 5/1953 France 242/18 DD [73] Asslgnee' g Machme Company Lansdale 898,038 6/1962 Great Britain 242/18 DD [22] Filed: Oct. 31, 1972 Primary ExaminerStan1ey N. Gilreath [21] Appl No: 302,555 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Paul & Paul [57] ABSTRACT U-S- DD, R A winder is provided for wind up of yam onto one or [51] P Cl 54/20 36511 54/52 more idler or driven rollers, with such driven rollers [58] new M 242/18 DD, 18 B, R being in friction-drive engagement against a drive roller, with the driven rollers being mounted in such a References Clted way that their axes are adapted for movement farther UNITED STATES PATENTS and farther away from the axis of the drive ro11er, as 2,019,623 11 1935 Moncrieff et a1. 242/18 DD the p of Packages the drive? rollers 2,647,697 8/1953 Pollock, Jr. 242/18 DD Crease Partlc larly novel means are prov1ded whereby 2,753,125 7/1956 Wurmli 242/18 DD the weight build-up on the driven rollers, due to the 2,811,317 10/1957 Herbert et al 242/18 DD continuous accumulation of yarn thereon is compen- 2,9l4,904 BI'OWH t DD X sated for force application to maintain a generally g z constant force of engagement between the drive roller on 3. 3,363,850 1/1968 Lingerfelt... 242/18 no and 3 or roller 3,430,875 3/1969 Kieronski 242/18 DD 20 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures WINDER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the prior art, and more specifically, in the prior art related to yarn winders, either of the single station or multiple station type, wherein yarn is delivered for wind-up onto a preferably cyindrical (but not necessarily cylindrical) package or the like, it as been commonplace to mount the driven roll or roller in such a way as to allow for movement of the driven roller away from the driving surface of the drive roller, as yarn builds up on the driven roller.

However, as yarn builds-up on the driven roller, of course the weight of the driven roller (with yarn thereon) increases.

The prior art has approached the problem of weight build-up in providing guides or the like for providing horizontal paths only, in order that the weight of the driven or idler roll does not become a factor affecting the driving of the driven roll, and in order that such does not become a factor affecting the pressure or force of engagement between the drive roll and driven roll. By providing tracks or paths that allowfonly this horizontal movement of the driven roll as it expands in diameter, theproblem of'weight build-up onthe roll is avoided. One example of a winding device of this type in allowing for horizontalmovement of the driven rolls is that disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,869,796.

It will be noted that, while such a disposition for the paths of travel of the idler or driven rolls avoids the problems attendant to increased weight-of the rolls, in allowing the tracks or paths themselves to carry the full weight of the driven rolls,- such does not solve the underlying problem of handling the weight build-up of the rolls, and moreover does not provide a satisfactory solution for those situations wherein the guides or tracks for various reasons may'not be disposed horizontally.

Even further, such a requirement for horizontal disposition only of tracks or guides of the idler rolls limits the number of driven rolls that may be used with a single drive roll, when multiple station simultaneous winding of a plurality of yarns is desired, in that there are only certain zones on opposite sides of the drive roll wherein sufficient frictional engagement may be had between the drive rolls and the driven rolls. Moreover, a built-in limitation in the use of horizontal paths for travel of the axes of the idler rolls in a multiple-station arrangement, is that the paths must be parallel to each other. This requirement is often found to limit the maximum allowable diameter of yarn build-up on the driven rolls. As the peripheries of driven rolls each engaged with the same drive roll approach each other, this imposes a limitation upon the overall package size.

THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention is directed toward providing a winder wherein the yarn build-up on the idler roll is effective for moving the idler roll axis in a conventional manner. except that the direction of movement is novel in that it may preferably be non-horizontal. relative to the axis of the drive roll. This translational movement of the axis of theidler roll is then operative to alter the forces that urge the idler roll into engagement with the drive roll, in a manner which will compensate for the increasing weight of the drive roll.

Thus, if the path of displacemnt of the axis of the driven roll is radial relative to the axis of the drive roll, and is also above the axis of the drive roll, the effect of gravity, or the weight of the driven roll will increasingly raise the force of engagement at the nip between the drive roll and driven or idler roll. Externally applied forces should, perhaps preferably, initially urge the axis of the driven roll with a slight upward resultant component of force in the direction of the path of movement of the driven or idler roll, or perhaps with a slight downward force, depending upon that initially provided by the empty roll. In any event, as the idler roll builds-up with yarn thereon, and its weight consequently increases, such that that portion of the weight thereof that is directed along the path of travel of the axis of the driven roll must be increasingly offset by force applied in such a way as to reduce the pressure or force applied between the rolls at'the nip. This opposing force should become greater, as the weight of the package increases and tends to increase the pressure at the nip. h

The meansby which pair of constant-force application devices, such as fluid operative piston cylinders or the like, preferably at each end of each idler roll. One such cylinder would hormally be operative in the direction of path of movement of the axis of the idler roll relative to the axis of the drive roll. The other cylinder would be mounted in such away that it is urging a constant force on the idler roll at a varying angle, as the size of the idler roll increases. For example, one end of the cylinder could be in engagement with the axis of the idler roll, andthe other end could be pivotally mounted, such that, as the idler roll increases in diameter, the angle at the pivot changes. Depending upon whether the pistons were of the pushing or pulling type, a force would be exerted, in one direction or the other, on the axis of the idler roll, such a force being the resultant of a fixed force preferably exerted along the path of displacement previously mentioned, and a variable force (i.e., variable as the size of the package on the idler roll increases).

It will be understood that, if for example the idler roll is mounted with its axis below the axis of the drive roll, it will be necessary to provide a generally upward component of force, along the direction of the path of displacement of the idler roll relative to the drive roll, in order that the pressure or force at the nip between the idler roll and drive roll remain at some desired level, or substantially thereat.

An important feature of the present invention resides in its adaptability for multiple-station winding, whereby the paths of displacements of the idler roll axes may allow the displacements of such axes to be nonhorizontal, and preferably radially, or generally radially, or in such a way that, as a package increases in size, the axes of adjacent idler rolls on the same drive roll will become increasingly spaced from each other, such that the maximum package size on a multiplestation winder is not so severely limited as in many prior art instances.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a dis tinct advantage in that the pressure or forces applied at the nip between drive roll and driven rolls can be carefully controlled, such that the final package will be this is done, is by providing a g properly wound in such a way as to avoid undesirable crushing of the package. Furthermore, by carefully controlling the nip pressures of a forming package, not only can the package be, in many instances, wound to have a significantly larger diameter than that capable with prior art types of winders, but that the packages thus wound, from one to another, will be more closely of the same size and configuration, for ease of subsequent handling of such a package on a yarn use apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is therefore directed toward providing a novel arrangement of the apparatus for compensating for the effect of the weight of a package of yarn on an idler roll, during a wind-up thereof, in a continuous manner, throughout the wind-up operation, by adjusting the forces applied to the idler roll that create the pressure at the nip, as the size of the package on the idler roll increases. The present invention is also directed toward providing a novel multiple-station winding apparatus, wherein each idler roll is also mounted for movement and to receive weightcompensating forces thereon as immediately abovedescribed, and wherein the arrangement of several of such idler rolls is such that the axes of the idler rolls become more greatly spaced from each other as the package sizes increase.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel single station winding apparatus for yarn or the like.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel multiple-station winding apparatus for yarn or the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel winding apparatus having weight-compensating force application features.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel multiple-station apparatus, capable of winding a greater number of packages simultaneously.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel multiple-station winding apparatus, capable of winding packages of larger diameter from a single drive roll, relative to the size of the drive roll.

It is another object of this invention to provide a winding apparatus, that compensates for yarn build-up on an idler roll thereof, by continuously exerting forces on the idler roll that compensate for the weight of the yarn as it builds-up thereon.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art by a reading of the following brief descriptions of the drawing figures, detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiments, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a perspective view, schematically illustrated. of a single station yarn winding apparatus, in accordance with this invention, wherein the various operative components of this invention are clearly illustrated.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, taken from the right end thereof.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a multiple-station yarn winding apparatus, of the general type illustrated in FIG. 1, but adaptedfor using multiple idler rolls, and

with the yarn feed and traversing mechanisms not being illustrated, for the sake of clarity.

FIG. 4 is an end view of a multiple station yarn winding apparatus, in accordance with this invention, with the idler rolls being illustrated in full lines in their initial positions, and in phantom lines, in their final-formed positions.

FIG. 5 is an end view of an alternative multiplestation yarn winding apparatus of this invention, with theidler rolls being illustrated in their fully formed sizes and dispositions.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary illustration of a portion of the idler roll guide device, taken generally along the line VI-VI of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is first made to FIG. 1, wherein there is illustrated an apparatus in accordance with this invention of the singlestation type, designated by the numeral 10, as comprising a drive roll 11, mounted on its shaft 12, for rotation about an axis running therethrough (generally horizontal), with the shaft being driven by any suitable chain, belt, gear drive, etc. (not shown).

A driven or idler roll 13, is provided, similarly mounted on a shaft 14, with the roll 13 being driven from the roll 11, in that the periphery of the roll I3, with yarn or the like thereon is urged against the periphery of the roll 11, under some predetermined desired force. Thus, the idler roll 13 is friction-driven from the drive roll 11.

A yarn strand [5 is delivered from a suitable source, through guides, etc., not shown, passing through a suitable traversing guide 16, as it is delivered around the rear surface of the roll 11, with respect to the illustration of FIG. 1, into the nip between the rolls I1 and 13, for being wound onto the periphery of the roll 13, as the package 17. It will be noted that the guide 16 is adapted for a traversing or back-and-forth motion in the direction of the double-headed arrow 18, by conventional techniques and apparatus, for facilitating the formation of the cylindrical package 17.

It will be noted that the roll 13 is mounted beneath the roll 11, such that a resultant upward force is necessary, greater than that of the idler roll 13 with yarn thereon at any given time, and also of an increased amount necessary to provide the desired force between the rolls 11 and 13, at the nip 20.

A pair of stationary guides, 21, 22 are fixedly mounted to suitable supports 23, 24 as illustrated in FIG. 1, with the guides having tracks 25, 26 therein, each of the slotted hole type, and, in the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, being disposed radially downwardly, with respect to the axis of the shaft 12 of the drive roll 11, for radial downward movement of the axis of the idler shaft 14, as the package 17 thereof increases in diameter.

With reference to FIG. 2, an end view of the apparatus illustrates a fluid cylinder 27, capable of exerting constant force upward on the idler shaft 14, as the shaft rides in the track 25, in that the cylinder 27 is of the piston-cylinder type, fixedly mounted at its upper end 28 thereof, and bearing-mounted at its lower end 30, for accommodating rotation of the shaft 14 therein. Another cylinder 31 is provided, for urging the idler roll 13 with a downward component of force, such downward-urging component of force being greatest as the idler roll initates yarn wind-up thereon, as for example, when the idler roll is of the small size illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2. As the idler roll increases in diameter such that the connection 32 for the force-applying cylinder 31 is moved downwardly, as the axis of the shaft 14 is moved downwardly because of increased diameter of the package 17, the cylinder 31 pivots about its pivotal mounting point 33, such that the force applied thereby in the direction of the arrow 34 in applied at an angle with the path provided by the track 25 that increasingly becomes more transverse relative to the direction of the path 25, such that the component of force of downward urging provided by the cylinder 31 becomes increasingly less, as the weight of the package l7 becomes increasingly greater. It will be understood that the ideal situation therefor, is to have the downward component of force provided from the cylinder 31, in the arrangement illustrated in FIG. 2 decrease as close-by as possible to the increase inweight of the package 17 because of yarn build-up. If this is the situation, and with the constant force provided by the cylinder 27 acting upwardly, in the-direction of the arrow 36 illustrated in FIG. 2,- the net force at the nip will remain substantially constant. Of course, if for some reason, it is desired to have the net force at the nip' gradually increase, or decrease, such may be done,.merely by altering the position of the pivot 33, to some other locatron.

With reference to FIG. 3, it will be seen that there is schematically illustrated a drive roll 40, fixedly mounted, and having a'circular 'boss or the like 41 (non-rotatable), mounted for clearance relative to the shaft 42 of the drive roll 41, and with a plurality of idler rolls 43, 44, 45, 46, arranged about the periphery of the drive roll 40. Each of the idler rolls 43 through 46, is adapted for radial outward movement, relative to the axis of the shaft 42, in a mannersimilar to that abovedescribed, but the particular tracks that facilitate such movement are not illustrated, in the interest of clarity.

However, each driven roll such as that 43, is provided with a pair of force-applying cylinders, one'being generally radially disposed as at 47, for applying a force generally in the direction of the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll such as that 43, and with the outer cylinder 48 being mounted for pivoting about some point 50. For the particular idler roll 43, it may be desirable to have the cylinder 47 apply a force in the direction of the arrow 51 illustrated, and for the cylinder 48 to provide a force in the direction of the arrow 52 illustrated in FIG. 3, such that the direction of the force applied in the direction of the arrow 52 will vary as the size of the package increases on the roll 43 from the initial full line size illustrated in FIG. 3, to the final size illustrated in phantom at 53 therein. Thus, the resultant of forces applied in the direction of the path of travel for the axis of the roll 43 will be the component of that force appliedfrom the cylinder 52 along the path, the opposing force 47 applied along the path, and that portion of the weight of the roll 43 along'the path.

It will be clear that as the weight increases for the roll 43, because the displacement of its axiswill be such that the force applied along the path by the cylinder 48 will be diminished, such will compensate for that component of the increase in weight applied along the path, whereas the force applied by the cylinder 47 will remain substantially constant. It will be noted that in the arrangement illustrated, the cylinder 47 is mounted for radial disposition only, but that such could be mounted for some other disposition, also to vary with the displacement of the axis of the driven cylinder 43, as it moves along the path provided by a track, if desired, but that such generally will not be necessary. It should be understood, however, that the present invention is intended in its broadest sense, and includes equivalents within the broadest teaching thereof.

The other rolls 44, 45, and 46 are similarly mounted, with perhaps variations in the angle of force applications provided by their cylinders, and also perhaps in the direction of force applied by their cylinders (i.e., with a vertical upward or vertical downward component), and even further, by the value of force constantly supplied by the cylinders, all of which may be preselected for any given location on the periphery of the drive roll 40, taking into consideration the expected weight build-up, at that particular location, and the portion thereof that will be operativev along whatever configured track is desired, asseffecting the nip force or pressure provided between the drive and that particular driven roll..It will be apparent-from the illustration of FIG. 3,'that none of the driven rolls 43 through 46 are mounted for horizontal movement of their axes, as they increase in diameter, relative to the axis of the shaft 42 of the drive roll, for example. It will, however, be clear that in some instances, multiple-station winding apparatus may be constructed, such that one or more of the idler rolls are mounted for horizontal disposition, or for horizontal path of travel of the idler rolls relative to the axis of the drive roll, but that one or more other driven rolls will generally be mounted for non-horizontal disposition or path of travel as the axis of such idler roll increases in distance from the axis of thedrive roll thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 4 in detail, it will be seen that a spinneret is provided, of conventional type having a plurality of orifices forformation of-a great many filaments such as those 61 thereby, with a great many filaments being brought together to from a single yarn. Thus, the filaments 61 are for purposes of example only. The filaments are wound on a suitable device 62, generally first being wound around the lower end of roll 63, then around the upper end of roll 64, and then downwardly therefrom as a plurality of multiplefilaments yarns 65, tensioned between the pair of drawing rolls 66 and the Godet device 62, to be delivered to the winding apparatus 67 of this invention, as a plurality (for example three) yarns provided thereto, for winding at the three different stations illustrated thereon. In any event, the three yarns are delivered to a conventional traversing mechanism 68 that moves back-and-forth, into the plane of the illustration of FIG. 4, and outwardly, for forming the cylindrical package in a conventional manner. The drive roll 70 is driven by a chain or the like 71, in engagement with a sprocket 72 thereof, with the chain 71 being driven from a drive sprocket 73, that in turn is driven from a motor 74 mounted as at 75. It will be noted that the traversing mechanism 68 is also driven from the chain 71, in a conventional manner, such that, rotation of its sprocket 76 thereof causes the back-and-forth traversing movement in a conventional manner.

Three idler rolls 77, 78 and 80 are mounted in disposition against the drive roll 70. It will be noted that yarn is delivered as at 65, around the drive roll 70, in a clockwise delivery path, as illustrated in FIG. 4, being taken off at various locations about the periphery of the roll 70, as it meets a nip of a driven roll 80, 78, 77, for example. Furthermore, the rolls 77, 78 and 80, are driven from the drive roll 70, in engagement with their peripheries, or with yarn disposed on the periphery.

The shaft ends of the rolls 77, are held in bearings 81, that in turn are secured to mounting blocks 82. The mounting blocks 82 have bores (not shown) therein, slidable along rod-like guides 83, that are disposed for moving the idler roll 77, radially relative to the axis of the drive roll 70. A cylinder 84 is fixedly mounted, for engagement with the mounting block 82, for applying a force also parallel to the radial path of movement of the axis of the idler roll 77, relative to the axis of the drive roll 70, such that all force urged by the cylinder 84 is applied to the idler roll 77. Another cylinder 85, is pivotally mounted, and is engaged with the mounting block 82, at connection point 86, for exerting a constant force at a variable angle, or a variable force against the mounting block 82, as the mounting block 82 moves with the movement of the idler roll 77, as the idler roll 77 increases from its full line position illustrated in FIG. 4, to the phantom line position illustrated at 87 therein. Thus, that component of the force provided from the cylinder 85 that is along the line of the path of movement of the block 82 along its guide 83 becomes increasingly smaller as the weight of yarn on the idler roll 77 increases.

The mounting block 82 is also guided for maintaining the axis of the idler roll 77 parallel to the axis of the drive roll 70, in providing a roller 88 shaft-carried by the block 82, and with the surface of the roller being in engagement with a surface of a track 90, as the mounting block 82 moves with package size build-up on the idler roll 77. However, such structure for maintaining the idler and drive rolls in such a way that their axes are parallel, and incorporating the use of a roller 88 and the track 90 does not form a specific part of this invention, in that any such mechanism could be utilized.

It will be clear that the idler rolls 78 and 80 are similarly mounted, as is the idler roll 77, for driven engagement by the drive roll 70, but that the quantities, angles of application, and directions applied (relative to gravity) of the forces applied by the several cylinders may vary, depending upon a given expected weight-build-up for an idler roll, its particular location about the periphery of the drive roll 70, etc.

With particular reference to FIGS. and 6, a fourstation winding device 100 is illustrated, of the same general type as that illustrated in FIG. 3, but wherein the force application means differ in mounting therefrom, and wherein the idler roll guide means differ in mounting, the latter two features being generally similar to the arrangements illustrated for their counterparts in the illustration of HG. 4.

The apparatus 100 includes a traversing mechanism 101 of conventional type, for guiding four multiplefilament yarns 102 around suitable guide wheels 103, 104, for delivery of yarns around different segments of the periphery of a drive roll 105, mounted for rotation about its center axis, driven thereby, by any suitable chain, pulley and belt or the like drive means.

Four idler rolls, or driven rolls 106, 107, 108 and 110 are provided, arranged about the periphery of the drive roll 105 as illustrated in HQ 5.

Each of the rolls 106, 107, 108 and 110 is mounted for engaging the roll 105, under a predetermined force along the nip thereof. It will be understood that such force may be carefully selected, depending upon the amount necessary to drive the driven roll, with due consideration for the friction at the nip, provided by the yarnthat is actually in engagement with the surface of the drive roll 105.

It will be noted that the various driven rolls in the illustration of FIG. 5 are mounted for movement at radially outward directions relative to the axis of the drive roll 105, as they increase in diametral size, in that the paths for movement thereof are determined by their mounting blocks 111 travelling along the guide rods 112, as discussed above with respect to the arrangement illustrated in-FlG. 4. Thus, the guide rods 112 are mounted to be parallel to the desired radial direction of movement of the axis of the driven roll 107, for ex ample, away from the axis of the drive roll 105, as thee package on the roll 107 increases in diameter. In order to facilitate such movement, bearing sleeves or the like 113 may be provided, press-fit or otherwise suitably secured within bores 114 of the mounting blocks 111, for facilitating sliding over the generally elongated cylindrical posts 112. It will be noted that, at the station illustrated for the driven roll 107, for example, a cylinder 115 is provided, for applying a force in the direction of the path of displacement of the axis of the driven roll 107, which, for the particular arrangement illustrated for roll 107, will generally exert an upward force, in the direction of the arrow 116. The angularly movable cylinder 117 is mounted for pivotal movement about its axis 118, for exerting substantially no force in the direction of the said path, when the package 121 on the roll 107 is at the full size position therefor illustrated in phantom in F IG. 5, but which would exert a force in the direction of said path of displacement, when the roll 107 is initially disposed closer to the drive roll 105, such that the direction of force 120 would have a component along said path, which, when added to the weight of the roll and package 107, 121, at any given time, would be a desired nip force amount in excess of that provided in an opposite direction along the path by the cylinder 115. Of course, as the size of the package 121 increases from a smaller diameter in which the roll 107 is closer to the roll 105, a greater amount of the nip force is provided by the weight of the package 121, and progressively a lesser amount is provided, by the cylinder 117, until the cylinder reaches an orientation such as that illustrated therefor in FIG. 5, whereby it is providing no force along the path of movement of the axis of the idler or driven roll 107 relative to the axis of the drive roll 105.

The mounting block 111 is also guided, in order to maintain the axis of the driven roll 107 parallel to that of the drive roll 105, in having a rotatable bearing wheel 123, in engagement against a race 124 provided by a track device 125 that, in turn, is carried by a vertical mounting plate 126, and connected thereto by spacer blocks 127.

As the cylinder 117 pivots about its stationary pivot 118, the piston rod thereof, being mounted for pivotal movement at 128 relative to the mounting block 111, can pivot such that the pivot point 128 is movable along a line parallel to the above-mentioned path of displacement for the idler axis, until the mounting block 111 goes from the right-most position for the roller 123 relative to the track 124, not illustrated in FIG. 6, to the position therefor illustrated in FIG. 6.

The mounting and operational arrangements for the similar components at the other stations need not be discussed,in that the same is essentially the same to that illustrated for the idler roll 107 of H0. 5.

It will be understood herein that the various'cylinders have been described as applying forces, in that the term forces as used-herein is to beconstrued in its broadest sense, in that such forces can be positive or negative, relative to a positive nip pressure or'force, which may also depend considerably upon whether or not the idler roll is disposed above o'r'below the axis of the continuous material such as rope, even wire or the like, that is wound on a winding apparatus could comprise a utilization of the broader aspects of this invention.

. of ever-increasing diameter that is disposed as an idler driveroll. Furthermore, depending upon the weight of the drive roll without any yarn build-up thereon, it may be desirable to mount the cylinders such as 115 and 117, such that, prior to the package 121 reaching its full size, the cylinders 115 and 117 provide forces that tend to oppose each other in direction. However, it is conceivable that for a driven roll such as 106, if the roll is of extremely heavy construction, it may be desirable to have both the pivotal cylinder 130 and non-pivotal cylinder 131, providing pulling forces, in opposition to the direction of the weight of the driven roll 106. However, such will not generally be the situation.

- ,lt' willfurther'be noted that an important feature of this invention, withrespect to the multiple-station winding arrangement for example illustrated in FIG. 5, is that it is possible to utilize a plurality, for example, four drivenrolls from a single drive roll 105, of relatively small diameter, with respect to thefinal size of the package 121. Such is made possible. in part, in' that the distance between the axes of adjacent rolls, for example, between the axes of rolls 107 and 106, increases as the package sizes of those rolls increase. Thus, it isreadily seen whya generally radial path of displacement for the axis of each driven-roll relative to the axis of the drive roll, is preferred. However, it will be understood that such would be possible with other paths,for example, arcuate paths or the like, wherein the distance 'of axes of the driven rolls would increase, with increased package build-up. Accordingly, spiralconfigured paths may also be included within the scope of this invention, or many other paths.

It will further be understood that, while it is preferable, in accordance'with this invention to use constantforce application for the various cylinders, such as the cylinders 27 and 31, it may, in some instances be desirable to utilize variable forces. For example, it may be desirable to utilize an extension spring in lieu of, or in addition to the cylinder 31, for example, in FIG. 2, for more rapid fade-off of downward pressure applied at the point 14, as the size of the package 17 increases. Similarly, an extension spring could be utilized as a variable force applicator, in lieu of the-constant force applied by the cylinder 27, if desired. Accordingly, while the application of force at a varying angle that varies in relation to the spacing of axes of driven and drive rolls from each other, as the driven roll increases in diameter is a braoder aspect of this invention, the preferred more specific aspect will involve the use of fewer variables, for simplicity and for ease of control as for example, by utilizing constant force application devices such as cylinders 27 and 31.

Also, while the wind-up of yarn and the like has been described herein as being a preferred use of the invention in its specific aspects, it will be understood that any roll, an idler roll adapted for receiving strand material or the like fed thereto in wound relation thereabout for package formation thereon, means for continuously guiding strand material to the idler roll, said idlerroll being mounted for rotation about an axis, path means providing a predetermined path of continuous displacemeans in engaged relation with the idler-roll for applying forces to the idler roll in the direction of said path that vary continuously as long as'the diameter of the package on the idler roll increases, wherein said force exerting means comprises first constant force application meansoperative for applyingsubstantially constant force to the idler roll in'the direction of the path of displacementof the axis of the'idlerroll, and a second constant force application means operative'for applying a substantially constant force to the; idler roll in an angular direction relative to the. path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll that continuously approaches an angular direction more greatly transverse to the path of displacement of the axis 'of the idler roll as the size of the package increases from its initial to its final diameter.

2. The winder of claim 1, wherein each said first and second constant force application means comprises at least one said fluid operative pressure cylinder.

3. The winder of claim 1, wherein each said first and second constant force application means comprises two fluid operative pressure cylinders in operative engagement with said idler roll at opposite ends thereof,

- with the pressure cylinders of said second force application means being pivotally mounted at their ends opposite the ends in engagement with said idler roll.

4. A multiple station yarn winder comprising a drive roll having means facilitating the rotational driving thereof, a plurality of rotationally drivable idler rolls disposed for frictional driving thereof about the periphery of said drive roll at various selected locations, roll guide means defining paths of displacement of the axes 4 of said idler rolls away from the axis of said drive roll and away from the axes of other idler rolls as yarn package build-up increases on the idler rolls, said paths for idler rolls being on extended straight lines drawn connecting the centers of the drive roll and the idler rolls, at least one said path being non-horizontal, yarn guide means for delivering yarns to the idler rolls, to be wound thereon, and means for exerting forces on the idler rolls that vary as the yarn build-up on the idler rolls increases.

5. The winder of claim 4, wherein said roll guide means define substantially radial paths for displacement of the axes of the idler rolls.

6. The winder of claim 4, wherein all said roll guide means are disposed for providing non-horizontal paths of displacement for the idler roll axes.

7. A multiple station yarn winder comprising a drive roll having means facilitating the rotational driving thereof, a plurality of rotationally drivable idler rolls disposed for frictional driving thereof about the periphery of said drive roll at various selected locations, roll guide means defining paths of displacement of the axes of said idler rolls away from the axis of said drive roll and away from the axes of other idler rolls as yarn package build-up increases on the idler rolls, at least one said roll guide means being disposed for providing a non-horizontal path of travel for its idler roll axis, yarn guide means for delivering yarns to the idler rolls, to be wound thereon, and means for exerting forces on the idler rolls that vary as the yarn build-up on the idler rolls increases, wherein all said roll guide means are disposed for providing non-horizontal paths of displacement for the idler roll axes, wherein said force exerting'means for each idler roll comprises first constant force application means operative for applying a substantially constant force to the idler roll in the direction of the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll, and second constant force application means operative for applying a substantially constant force to the idler roll in an angular direction relative to the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll that continuously approaches an angular direction more greatly transverse to the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll as the size of the package increases from its initial to its final diameter.

8. The winder of claim 7, wherein the yarn guide means comprises a back-and-forth traversing mechanism for feeding yarn into the nips between the idler rolls and the drive roll, substantially along the lengths of the idler roll.

9. The winder of claim 8, wherein there are four said idler rolls, all similarly arranged about the periphery of said drive roll.

10. The winder of claim 8, wherein there are three said idler rolls, all similarly arranged about the periphery of said drive roll.

11. A multiple station yarn winding apparatus comprising a drive roll, a plurality of driven or idler rolls having surfaces in contacting friction-driven engagement with the surface of the said drive roll, yarn guide means of the traversing type for guiding yarns to the idler rolls for wind-up of yarns thereon over the length thereof as the idler rolls are driven rotationally by the drive roll, idler roll guides mounted for guiding the idler rolls for generally radial outward movement of their axes in paths away from the axis of the drive roll and away from the axes of the other idler rolls as yarn build-up on the idler rolls increases, force exerting means each having a resultant force operative along an associated said path, and means operatively interconnecting said idler rolls and said force exerting means for altering the magnitude of the forces applied along associated said paths by said force exerting means in response to said movement of the idler rolls, wherein the force exerting means are separate with respect to each said idler roll and wherein each comprises two separate force-exerting members, with one said member being mounted for pivotal movement in response to said idler roll movement, with said member that is mounted for pivotal movement comprising means for altering the direction of force applied thereby to the associated said idler roll along its said path.

12. The method of winding a plurality of yarns onto idler rolls simultaneously, comprising the steps of providing a rotatably drivable drive roll, providing a plurality of idler rolls each in engagement against the drive roll for rotatable driving thereby, delivering a plurality of yarns to the idler rolls for wrapping thereabout as the idler rolls rotate, guiding the idler rolls in a generally radial outward direction relative to the axis of the drive roll, with at least some of the idler rolls being guided in a non-horizontal generally radial path relative to the axis of the drive roll, and urging the idler rolls in the direction of their paths with force applications, some of said force applications being operative in the direction of the paths of travel of the idler rolls as they fill with yarn and other of said force applications being operative on the idler rolls at an angle to the path of travel of the idler rolls, said angle varying as the size of an idler roll increases, to compensate for the varying weight effect on the force of engagement between the drive and idler rolls of yarn build-up on the idler rolls, to maintain the force of engagement between the drive and idler rolls relatively constant.

13. A winder for wind-up of continuous strand material or the like into a package comprising, a drive roll for rotationally driving against the surface of a package of ever-increasing diameter that is disposed as an idler roll, an idler roll adapted for receiving strand material or the like fed thereto in wound relation thereabout for package formation thereon, means for continuously guiding strand material to the idler roll, said idler roll being mounted for rotation about an axis, path means for providing a pre-determined path of continuous displacement of the axis of the idler roll as the package thereon increases in diameter, said path being of other than horizontal disposition, variable force exerting means in engaged relation with the idler roll for applying forces to the idler roll in the direction of said path that vary continuously as long as the diameter of the package on the idler roll increases, wherein said force exerting means comprising a first constant force application means operative for applying a substantially constant force to the idler roll in the general direction of the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll, and a second constant force application means operative for applying a substantially constant force to the idler roll in an angular direction relative to the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll that substantially continuously varies as the size of the package increases from its initial to its final diameter.

14. The winder of claim 13, wherein said path is along an extended straight line passing through the centers of the drive roll and the idler roll.

15. A multiple station yarn winder comprising a drive roll having means facilitating the rotational driving thereof, a plurality of rotationally drivable idler rolls disposed for frictional driving thereof about the periphery of said drive roll at various selected locations, roll guide means defining paths of displacement of the axes of said idler rolls away from the axis of said drive roll and away from the axes of other idler rolls as the yarn package build-up increases on the idler rolls, at least one said roll guide means being disposed for providing a non-horizontal path of travel for its idler roll axis, yarn guide means for delivering yarns to the idler rolls to be wound thereon, means for exerting forces on the idler rolls that vary as the yarn build-up on the idler rolls increases, said force exerting means for each idler roll comprising a first constant force application means operative for applying a substantially constant force to the idler roll in the general direction of the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll, and a second constant force application means operative for applying a substantially constant force to the idler roll in an angular direction relative to the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll that substantially continuously varies as the size of the package increases from its initial to its final diameter.

16. The winder of claim 15, wherein each said first and second constant force application means for each idler roll comprises at least one fluid operative pressure cylinder.

17. The winder of claim 15, wherein each said first and second constant force application means for each idler roll comprises two fluid operative pressure cylinders in operative engagement with associated said idler rolls at opposite ends thereof, withthepressure cylinders of said second force application means being pivotally mounted at their'ends opposite the ends in engagement with said idler rolls.

18. A winder for wind-up of continuous strand material or the like into a package comprising a drive roll for driving thereof, a plurality of rotationally drivable idler rolls disposed for frictional driving thereof about the periphery of said drive roll at various selected locations, roll guide means defining paths of displacement of the axis of said idler rolls away from the axis of said drive roll and away from the axes of the other idler rolls as yarn package build-up increases on the idler rolls, at

least one said roll guide means being disposed for pro-- viding a non-horizontal path of travel for its idler roll axis. yarn guide means for delivering yarns to the idler rolls to be wound thereon, means for exerting forces on the idler rolls that vary as the yarn build-up on the idler rolls increases, said force exerting means for each idler roll comprising a first force application means operative for applying a force to the idler roll in the general direction of the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll and a second force application means operative for applying a force to the idler roll in an angular direction, relative to the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll that varies as the size of the package increases from its initial to its final diameter.

19. A multiple station yarn winder comprising a drive roll having means facilitating the rotational driving thereof, a plurality of rotationally drivable idler rolls disposed for frictional driving thereof about the periphery of said drive roll at various selected locations, roll guide means defining paths of displacement of the axis of said idler rolls away from the axis of said drive roll and away from the axes of the other idler rolls as yarn package build-up increases on the idler rolls, at least one said roll guide means being disposed for providing a non-horizontal path of travel for its idler roll axis, yarn guide means for delivering yarns to the idler rolls, to be wound thereon, means for exerting forces on the idler rolls that vary as the yarn build-up on the idler rolls increases, said force exerting means for each idler .roll comprising a first force application means operative for applying a force to the idler roll in the general direction of the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll and a second force application means operative for applying a force to the idler roll in anangular direction, relative to the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll, that varies as the size of the package increases from its initial to its final diameter.

20. The winder of claim 15, wherein the path of each idler roll is along an extended straight line passing through the center of the drive roll and that idler roll. 

1. A winder for wind-up of continuous strand material or the like into a package comprising, a drive roll for rotationally driving against the surface of a package of ever-increasing diameter that is disposed as an idler roll, an idler roll adapted for receiving strand material or the like fed thereto in wound relation thereabout for package formation thereon, means for continuously guiding strand material to the idler roll, said idler roll being mounted for rotation about an axis, path means providing a predetermined path of continuous displacement of the axis of the idler roll as the package thereon increases in diameter, said path being of other than horizontal disposition, and variable force exerting means in engaged relation with the idler roll for applying forces to the idler roll in the direction of said path that vary continuously as long as the diameter of the package on the idler roll increases, wherein said force exerting means comprises first constant force application means operative for applying substantially constant force to the idler roll in the direction of the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll, and a second constant force application means operative for applying a substantially constant force to the idler roll in an angular direction relative to the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll that continuously approaches an angular direction more greatly transverse to the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll as the size of the package increases from its initial to its final diameter.
 2. The winder of claim 1, wherein each said first and second constant force application means comprises at least one said fluid operative pressure cylinder.
 3. The winder of claim 1, wherein each said first and second constant force application means comprises two fluid operative pressure cylinders in operative engagement with said idler roll at opposite ends thereof, with the pressure cylinders of said second force application means being pivotally mounted at their ends opposite the ends in engagement with said idler roll.
 4. A multiple station yarn winder comprising a drive roll having means facilitating the rotational driving thereof, a plurality of rotationally drivable idler rolls disposed for frictional driving thereof about the periphery of said drive roll at various selected locations, roll guide means defining paths of displacement of the axes of said idler rolls away from the axis of said drive roll and away from the axes of other idler rolls as yarn package build-up increases on the idler rolls, said paths for idler rolls being on extended straight lines drawn connecting the centers of the drive roll and the idler rolls, at least one said path being non-horizontal, yarn guide means for delivering yarns to the idler rolls, to be wound thereon, and means for exerting forces on the idLer rolls that vary as the yarn build-up on the idler rolls increases.
 5. The winder of claim 4, wherein said roll guide means define substantially radial paths for displacement of the axes of the idler rolls.
 6. The winder of claim 4, wherein all said roll guide means are disposed for providing non-horizontal paths of displacement for the idler roll axes.
 7. A multiple station yarn winder comprising a drive roll having means facilitating the rotational driving thereof, a plurality of rotationally drivable idler rolls disposed for frictional driving thereof about the periphery of said drive roll at various selected locations, roll guide means defining paths of displacement of the axes of said idler rolls away from the axis of said drive roll and away from the axes of other idler rolls as yarn package build-up increases on the idler rolls, at least one said roll guide means being disposed for providing a non-horizontal path of travel for its idler roll axis, yarn guide means for delivering yarns to the idler rolls, to be wound thereon, and means for exerting forces on the idler rolls that vary as the yarn build-up on the idler rolls increases, wherein all said roll guide means are disposed for providing non-horizontal paths of displacement for the idler roll axes, wherein said force exerting means for each idler roll comprises first constant force application means operative for applying a substantially constant force to the idler roll in the direction of the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll, and second constant force application means operative for applying a substantially constant force to the idler roll in an angular direction relative to the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll that continuously approaches an angular direction more greatly transverse to the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll as the size of the package increases from its initial to its final diameter.
 8. The winder of claim 7, wherein the yarn guide means comprises a back-and-forth traversing mechanism for feeding yarn into the nips between the idler rolls and the drive roll, substantially along the lengths of the idler roll.
 9. The winder of claim 8, wherein there are four said idler rolls, all similarly arranged about the periphery of said drive roll.
 10. The winder of claim 8, wherein there are three said idler rolls, all similarly arranged about the periphery of said drive roll.
 11. A multiple station yarn winding apparatus comprising a drive roll, a plurality of driven or idler rolls having surfaces in contacting friction-driven engagement with the surface of the said drive roll, yarn guide means of the traversing type for guiding yarns to the idler rolls for wind-up of yarns thereon over the length thereof as the idler rolls are driven rotationally by the drive roll, idler roll guides mounted for guiding the idler rolls for generally radial outward movement of their axes in paths away from the axis of the drive roll and away from the axes of the other idler rolls as yarn build-up on the idler rolls increases, force exerting means each having a resultant force operative along an associated said path, and means operatively interconnecting said idler rolls and said force exerting means for altering the magnitude of the forces applied along associated said paths by said force exerting means in response to said movement of the idler rolls, wherein the force exerting means are separate with respect to each said idler roll and wherein each comprises two separate force-exerting members, with one said member being mounted for pivotal movement in response to said idler roll movement, with said member that is mounted for pivotal movement comprising means for altering the direction of force applied thereby to the associated said idler roll along its said path.
 12. The method of winding a plurality of yarns onto idler rolls simultaneously, comprising the steps of providing a rotatably drivable drive roll, providing a plurality of idler rolls Each in engagement against the drive roll for rotatable driving thereby, delivering a plurality of yarns to the idler rolls for wrapping thereabout as the idler rolls rotate, guiding the idler rolls in a generally radial outward direction relative to the axis of the drive roll, with at least some of the idler rolls being guided in a non-horizontal generally radial path relative to the axis of the drive roll, and urging the idler rolls in the direction of their paths with force applications, some of said force applications being operative in the direction of the paths of travel of the idler rolls as they fill with yarn and other of said force applications being operative on the idler rolls at an angle to the path of travel of the idler rolls, said angle varying as the size of an idler roll increases, to compensate for the varying weight effect on the force of engagement between the drive and idler rolls of yarn build-up on the idler rolls, to maintain the force of engagement between the drive and idler rolls relatively constant.
 13. A winder for wind-up of continuous strand material or the like into a package comprising, a drive roll for rotationally driving against the surface of a package of ever-increasing diameter that is disposed as an idler roll, an idler roll adapted for receiving strand material or the like fed thereto in wound relation thereabout for package formation thereon, means for continuously guiding strand material to the idler roll, said idler roll being mounted for rotation about an axis, path means for providing a pre-determined path of continuous displacement of the axis of the idler roll as the package thereon increases in diameter, said path being of other than horizontal disposition, variable force exerting means in engaged relation with the idler roll for applying forces to the idler roll in the direction of said path that vary continuously as long as the diameter of the package on the idler roll increases, wherein said force exerting means comprising a first constant force application means operative for applying a substantially constant force to the idler roll in the general direction of the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll, and a second constant force application means operative for applying a substantially constant force to the idler roll in an angular direction relative to the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll that substantially continuously varies as the size of the package increases from its initial to its final diameter.
 14. The winder of claim 13, wherein said path is along an extended straight line passing through the centers of the drive roll and the idler roll.
 15. A multiple station yarn winder comprising a drive roll having means facilitating the rotational driving thereof, a plurality of rotationally drivable idler rolls disposed for frictional driving thereof about the periphery of said drive roll at various selected locations, roll guide means defining paths of displacement of the axes of said idler rolls away from the axis of said drive roll and away from the axes of other idler rolls as the yarn package build-up increases on the idler rolls, at least one said roll guide means being disposed for providing a non-horizontal path of travel for its idler roll axis, yarn guide means for delivering yarns to the idler rolls to be wound thereon, means for exerting forces on the idler rolls that vary as the yarn build-up on the idler rolls increases, said force exerting means for each idler roll comprising a first constant force application means operative for applying a substantially constant force to the idler roll in the general direction of the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll, and a second constant force application means operative for applying a substantially constant force to the idler roll in an angular direction relative to the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll that substantially continuously varies as the size of the package increases from its initial to its finAl diameter.
 16. The winder of claim 15, wherein each said first and second constant force application means for each idler roll comprises at least one fluid operative pressure cylinder.
 17. The winder of claim 15, wherein each said first and second constant force application means for each idler roll comprises two fluid operative pressure cylinders in operative engagement with associated said idler rolls at opposite ends thereof, with the pressure cylinders of said second force application means being pivotally mounted at their ends opposite the ends in engagement with said idler rolls.
 18. A winder for wind-up of continuous strand material or the like into a package comprising a drive roll for driving thereof, a plurality of rotationally drivable idler rolls disposed for frictional driving thereof about the periphery of said drive roll at various selected locations, roll guide means defining paths of displacement of the axis of said idler rolls away from the axis of said drive roll and away from the axes of the other idler rolls as yarn package build-up increases on the idler rolls, at least one said roll guide means being disposed for providing a non-horizontal path of travel for its idler roll axis, yarn guide means for delivering yarns to the idler rolls to be wound thereon, means for exerting forces on the idler rolls that vary as the yarn build-up on the idler rolls increases, said force exerting means for each idler roll comprising a first force application means operative for applying a force to the idler roll in the general direction of the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll and a second force application means operative for applying a force to the idler roll in an angular direction, relative to the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll that varies as the size of the package increases from its initial to its final diameter.
 19. A multiple station yarn winder comprising a drive roll having means facilitating the rotational driving thereof, a plurality of rotationally drivable idler rolls disposed for frictional driving thereof about the periphery of said drive roll at various selected locations, roll guide means defining paths of displacement of the axis of said idler rolls away from the axis of said drive roll and away from the axes of the other idler rolls as yarn package build-up increases on the idler rolls, at least one said roll guide means being disposed for providing a non-horizontal path of travel for its idler roll axis, yarn guide means for delivering yarns to the idler rolls, to be wound thereon, means for exerting forces on the idler rolls that vary as the yarn build-up on the idler rolls increases, said force exerting means for each idler roll comprising a first force application means operative for applying a force to the idler roll in the general direction of the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll and a second force application means operative for applying a force to the idler roll in an angular direction, relative to the path of displacement of the axis of the idler roll, that varies as the size of the package increases from its initial to its final diameter.
 20. The winder of claim 15, wherein the path of each idler roll is along an extended straight line passing through the center of the drive roll and that idler roll. 